Kindergarten

Yes, in Wichita Public Schools, we call our event Intro to Kindergarten that happens in May. Parents of in-coming kindergarten students attend in the spring before they start in the fall. 

The online enrollment system will only allow one parent to complete the enrollment process. That parent will include parental information for both parents so that both can receive the information. If you have questions when enrolling, call 316-866-8043 for assistance.

Parents should expect to be able to walk their student to class and meet the teacher if they haven't already. In past years, our elementary schools have staggered attendance for kindergarten students for the first few days of the school year, dividing the class into thirds so that the teachers can focus on a smaller group of students for their first day. This may make the schedule a little different the first week of school, but it will become consistent with the rest of the district/school calendar after that.

The hours for most elementary schools are from 9 a.m.-4:10 p.m. However, there are some schools that have different hours. Each school has the hours listed in the "Building Information" section of their home page.

You can find the full school-year calendar on the district's Calendar page. Most elementary schools will have a staggered first day of school for kindergarten students. Each student's first day will be a full day, but they may have a break between their first and second days of school. Your school will communicate directly with you about what to expect prior to the district's first day of school.

For all K-12 students in Wichita Public Schools, bus transportation is provided for students who live more than 2.5 miles from their assigned school. In most cases, the bus stop is within two blocks of the home address for kindergarteners. Specific bus stop information is provided closer to the first day of school. Complete the enrollment process by the in-person enrollment dates in late July to ensure that your eligible student will receive bus services beginning on the first day.

Before the first bus ride, take your child to the bus stop so that they are familiar with it. Help your child memorize their address and your phone number.

During the year, accompany your child to the bus stop in the morning and supervise them until the bus comes. Be at the bus stop to meet them in the afternoon. The FirstView app allows parents to track the bus GPS and to get up-to-date information through push notifications. This is a great tool to use while waiting to get your child from the bus! 

Kindergarten bus riders are given a yellow tag from their teacher. Keep this fastened to your kindergartener’s backpack to help remind the bus driver that the child is a kindergartener. In most cases, the kindergartners will sit up front near the driver. We encourage parents to send a small comfort toy wiht their student on the bus, like a fidget, small plush toy, or book. Please don’t send your child on the bus with food, candy, or drinks (besides those packed in a lunch).

You can sign up for latchkey, or before and after school care, during the enrollment process. Each program coordinator will choose different activities for their latchkey students. You can contact your school for specific questions about their program approach. Visit the Latchkey page for more information.

Some schools require uniform dress codes, but not all do. You can visit the Useful Information page of the enrollment site to see what was required for the current year (look for "Schools with Standardized Dress"). If you have any concerns about the standardized dress requirements, please contact your child's school before the start of the school year.

Teachers and school nurses work with students and families when this happens. We do have some extra clothes at schools, or you may put extra clothes in your child's backpack - just in case.

Yes, if you have concerns, you can speak to the building principal or school nurse, and they will be able to give you more information.

All of the elementary schools have standard fees for text books and student materials. The fee information is updated each year on the Useful Information section of the enrollment site.

The cost for school meals is on a sliding scale, including full price, reduced price, and free. To qualify for free or reduced price meals (along with other fees, families must complete the "Free and Reduced" application each year.

We provide free breakfast in the classroom for all elementary students.

Visit the Nutrition Services website for more information about school meals.

You will complete the online Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) when you enroll in person at the end of July. The ASQ helps the school pinpoint a child's developmental progress to best meet their educational needs. Learn more about the ASQ. 

• Talks in sentences
• Speaks loud and clear to express wants and thoughts
• Uses sentences that have two or more ideas
• Knows and can say some common nursery rhymes and songs (Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star)
• Pretends, creates, makes up songs and stories in play
• Tells or retells stories and/or everyday experiences
• Asks questions and expresses curiosity
• Describes people, places, things and events with some details
• Uses question words (Who, What, Where, Why, How) to get help or learn more about something (Why does a giraffe have long neck?)

• Uses words to solve problems or conflicts
• Identifies appropriate solutions to a problem
• Uses words like please, thank you and excuse me
• Follows simple one and two-step direction(s) (Example: Please wash your face before bed. Please wash your face, then brush your teeth before bed.)
• Stays with an activity to completion
• Is able to ask for help
• Interacts appropriately with adults and peers
• Listens, shares, and takes turns with other children
• Participates in clean-up activities
• Is able to dress self
• Able to follow a routine/schedule for personal health, eating meals and going to bed
• Follows simple safety rules
• Able to identify emotions in themselves and others (I am upset because you took my turn. You are mad because I made a mess.)

• Looks at books or pictures on their own
• Pretends to read books by using the pictures
• Identifies the front, back and title page of a book
• Able to connect to signs and symbols within their environment (Stop Sign)
• Recognizes rhyming words (cat-hat)
• Begins to sound out words (Hop = H + O + P)
• Recognizes some common words in print
• Recognizes many uppercase and lowercase letters
• Recognizes some letter sounds
• Describes some characters and their actions by using details from a book
• Relates stories to personal experiences
• Puts events of a story in order

• Uses words to solve problems or conflicts
• Asks you to write words or notes to others
• Draws a picture about a story read or heard
• Attempts to write own name and recognizes own name in print
• Adds details to writing and/or picture with help
• Answers questions about their writing/pictures
• Copies shapes of letters when writing
• Attempts to draw series of letters to represent a word

Download English Checklist

Download Swahili Checklist

Download Vietnamese Checklist

• Read daily with your child and ask questions about what you read (In English and/or your home language)
• Give them chores around the house (Cleaning up trash and/or helping with dishes)
• Establish routines for daily events such as bedtime and meals
• Play games as a family to practice taking turns and staying on task
• Have your child practice putting items into groups by size, shapes, and/or color
• Encourage your child to be independent by dressing themselves, brushing teeth, or washing face after meal times
• Connect reading to daily experiences
• Set up play times with friends so your child can practice social skills and problem solving
• Provide opportunities for your child to play
• Have them practice repeating and following specific directions
• Have your child point and count objects to practice number sequence (Count how many apples you put into the cart while at the store)
• Talk about what school might look like

The Wichita Literacy Coalition partners with schools, organizations, and families to help more children start kindergarten ready to learn. Supported by Wichita State University’s Public Policy & Management Center, the coalition focuses on helping families who need it most.

Visit the WLC website to see a full list of partners and helpful resources for your family.

Your role in your child’s learning is powerful—and we’re here to support you! Below are fun, simple activities you can do together at home using the Kindergarten Kit you received during enrollment.

These videos show how to use the kit to build important skills before school starts—and all year long.

🎥 Need another language? Many of these videos are available in other languages. Just look for the language options or subtitles when you watch.

Thank you for being a key part of your child’s education!